Clicker block



April 9, 1929. w. 1.. HARROUN CLICKER BLOCK Filed July 1928 3 fi i .7.

Wm. Mm

. than the bottom.

Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. I-IARROUN, OF ELLISBURG, NEVJ YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 F. 33. I-EIUDSON 81; SONS, INC., OF ELLISBURG, NEW YORK, A CQRPORATIOI-T OF ILIE'EW YORK.

CLIGKER BLOCK.

Application filed July 3, 1928.

This invention relatcsto clicker blocks, designed. for use in connection with the well known cliclt'ag machines employed in the manufacture of shoes, and has for l'JS object to provide novel construction of an oblong block for cutting leather and the like, the said block comprising a number of segments of hard-wood, or other non-metallic substance, the latter being bound by stout adjustable iron cleats or straps, which are disposed flush with the bottom plane, the portion of the block above the irons being tapered at its four edges for providing a single cutting surface parallel with and of less area A further object is to provide reinforcing rods at intervals in the length of the block, said rods passing entirely through the narrow dimension of the block and through the longer clamping irons which are formed with slotted openings for the purpose, and by which the irons may be clamped tightly against the ends of the seg ments to prevent buckling or shifting of the irons in case the block shrinks. And a further o ject is to provide a cutting block of this character having a relatively broad bottom which remains true and level throughout the life of the block and needs no redressing or truing-up, the said bottom not only tending to hold the block'level and firm during the cutting operations, but enables a planer to redress its top surface, after the latter becomes worn and uneven, exactly parallel to the bottom.

'I attain these objects by the means set forth in the detailed description which follows, and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the sectional block, showing its free top portion tapered, also showing the several clamping and reinforcing members below the taper. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the block. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the longer clamping irons. And 5 is a similar view of one of the shorter irons.

In the drawing, 2 represents the complete clicker block which is preferably composed of a number of transverse wooden segments 2, that are closely fitted and are usually primarily held together as one part by glue or other adhesive. In practice, the segments 2 are first sawed and jointed and finally assembled without beveling, as shown by dot- Serial No. 290,191.

ted lines m in Fi 2 and 3. These =cgn1c11ts may be of uniform. or irregular thickness, and when applied to a clicking machine, the block is usually supported by a tray-like base (not shown). 0

I-Ieretofore, clicker blocks of this class were formed with square-cut top and bottom earners and the rents were clamped and held against so i at their joints by iron bars or plates, which were nounted midway in th height of the blocks for providing similar clear PGl'blOllS above, as ivell as below the irons. The tonan-tl bottom faces of these older blocks \vcre parallel, both being finished level and smohth and adapted to be used as cutting surfaces.

Thatis to when the uppermost surface of the blot )ec-on' worn and um n, it 1. 1- upwards and the cut t ca l on the new surface. lVhcn the ori inal and bottom faces become worn oiit by th action of the ca j-mshz members, the block are sent to the planer and both cutt ig surfaces are red; A This wearing raj. and redressing usually continues until the blocks are rediiced to a denth of about one ch greater than the breadth of the clamping irons, aft which the remnants of the blocks are discarded and new ones insta l Ordinarily, the redressin; stopped about one-half inch clear of the 0 3 posite edges of the irens. This results in a considerable waste of the material, as well as loss of the service of the blocks. Furthermore, when the tops and bottoms are both worn out and rendered too uneven for the dies to effect clean cuts, the planer found it difiicult to true-up the blocks and restore new cutting'surfaccs exactly parallel to each other.

In the present case, fter the segments 2 are assembled and gluedotogether, as described, the top corners at the sides and ends are beveled, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The bevelling extends upwardly from points adjacent the bottom portions of the sides and ends to the top of the block so as to provide a cutting surface of materially less area than that of the bottom of the blocli. The unbevellcd lower portions of the sides and ends of the block form a continuous ledge or seat 2, to engage the clai'nping irons 3-3. The clampii or holding irons are disposed substantially flush with the bottom face of the block. These irons are pref- I ne'rs of the block. One end of each iron is )erforated as at 3 and its 0 1 )osite end is reduced and threaded, as at 3; lVhenthe irons are mounted on the block 2, the threaded end of one iron is inserted through the perforation 3 of the adjacent iron, and so on around the block, as'shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Nuts 4 are then applied to the ends 3, and when tightened up they exert a powerful clamping force both longitudinally and transversely. Owing to the rela-' tively great length of the block 2, the longer irons 3 are liable to spring away from the ends of the segments and render the clamps less effective. To correct this fault certain of the segments 2 are bored to receive reinforcing rods 5, and the irons 3 are also formed with slotted openings 3, through i which the threaded ends of the rods protrude sufiieiently to receive nuts 5, as shown in' Figs. 1 and 2. By disposing-the irons 33, as shown, the bottom 2 of the block remains level and unworn and the top or cutting surface 2 may be repeatedly redressed until the block is worn down to within about onehalf inch of the irons as shown by the dotted line 0. This tends to prolong the life of the block, and effects alowering of the replacement cost, as compared with the older construction, as explained. Naturally blocks of this class are required to be carefully and accurately made from clear stock that is free from knots and hard burls, which might interfere with proper cutting work. The disposing of the irons 3-3 at the bottom instead of midway between the top and bottom as heretofore, the-unused bottom surface remains trueand level, throughout the life of the block, thereby insuring better and longer service and facilitating the redressing of the blocks and the preserving of the parallel re lation of the bottom 2 and top 2 which is indispensible to perfectcutting work.

The bevelling ot' the blockalleviates or less ens chipping-or splintering of the corners of the block, due to the fact that the sharp right angular edgesof the corners in the prior art, are eliminated, in which regard it will be noted that the downward pressure of the cutting dies is progressively resisted by the bevelled portions of the block, due to the gradually increasing lower parts of the block. In other words, the vertical lines of force exerted by the cutting dies are opposed by the progressively increasing lower por tions' of the block, this to such bevelling, whereas with a block having a right angular edge, no such opposition is had and consequently chipping or splintering meets with less resistance. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A clicker block having its sides and ends bevelled upwardly from points adjacent the bottom portions of said sides andends to the top of the block so as toprovide a cutting surface of less area than that of said bot .tom of the block, and holding means for the block engaged with said bottom portions of the sides and ends of the block, and disposed substantially flush with the botom face of the block. 7 i V In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM L. HARROUN. 

